All-Area Football - Smyre is offensive player of the year

Sat. December 24, 2011 at 1:57 p.m. | By Chuck Carree | StarNews Staff Writer

North Brunswick’s Jaron Smyre (left) is the Star News offensive football player of the year and Hoggard’s Terry Caldwell is the Star News defensive player of the year. (Photo by Photo by Matt Born)

North Brunswick running back Jaron Smyre portrays himself a downhill runner who also attempts to shake the first defender.
In 2011, he broke tackles and sidestepped foes for 2,010 yards of offense while rising from obscurity for the Scorpions’ football team. By whipping defenders with strength and speed, Smyre captured the StarNews All-Area Offensive Player of the Year award.
“I kind of surprised myself,’’ he said. “I knew I was going to have a good year, but not of this magnitude.’’
With only one starter back on offense and coach Garry Bishop in desperate need of playmakers, he remembered Smyre had potential, despite a pair of fumbles in cameo appearances as a running back last year.
“He hit the hole so fast and I just saw something,’’ Bishop said. “If we could just work with him and he could hold onto the ball, he could do well.’’
“He had his shoulders low and looked like a guy who could learn to run the ball. But it was more than we expected this year.’’
In his 2011 debut, Smyre rushed 15 times for 184 yards, including an 82-yard touchdown. His score proved decisive in a 14-8 season-opening victory over Pender. The following week he scored four touchdowns, including a 63-yard catch in a win over Trask.
“He started getting better with his moves and he was a quick burst guy,’’ Bishop said. “He came into his own when he started making a lot of guys miss in the open field. When you get into the secondary and make a guy miss, you can get 25 to 30 more yards.
“He became a complete, durable runner and he caught the ball well; some of which were difficult catches as well as good runs after he caught the ball.’’
His magnificent season went beyond just talent. It also involved a low-key approach and unselfishness.
“It is not just his athletic ability, but his character, demeanor around school, the way he treats people around school and how courteous he is and his dedication to the sport that all factored into his success,’’ veteran Scorpions coach Garry Bishop said. “He was a good team leader by example.’’
For instance, during a five-game stretch of 200-plus-yard rushing games, Bishop remembers times when Smyre begged him to let others run the ball in one-sided games.
Smyre started at cornerback last season, but only played sparingly there in the fall. He did have one memorable moment, when his 78-yard interception return with 1:20 left sealed a 33-25 triumph over Whiteville after he rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries.
Smyre also ran for 236 yards on only 13 carries against West Brunswick.
“The kid is phenomenal,’’ former Trojans coach Jimmy Fletcher said. “You look at him and you think, ‘We got him.’ It doesn’t look like he is running fast, but nobody catches him. He is kind of a slasher. He makes people miss and he runs away from you.’’
Smyre was hurt in the first quarter of North Brunswick’s playoff loss to Bunn and finished his season with 1,768 rushing yards, 20 short of the school record.
Despite the banner season, interest from recruiters has not been great in the 5-foot-10, 182-pound senior. Bishop said colleges have told him they don’t need running backs. Bishop suggested taking him as a defensive back or athlete.
“He has good hands, good feet and good quickness,’’ Bishop said.
Smyre plans to take a visit to Campbell Jan. 13 and UNC-Pembroke invited him to a tryout Jan.16. Richmond recently expressed interest. Fletcher plans to invite him to play in the annual East-West all-star game next summer. It would be a fitting cap to an unforgettable senior season.